WOODLINGCOLUMN

Notes and quotes. . . Notes and quotes while wondering if the Big Eight has ever considered merging with the Mid-American Conference and becoming the Big MAC. . .

Reportedly Kansas already has verbal commitments for most of its available football scholarships with the national signing date still 2 weeks away. Coach Glen Mason has only 15 to 18 grants available. If Mason signed the maximum of 25, he'd go over the NCAA's 95-scholarship limit. . .

Kansas seven-footer Greg Ostertag, asked what he thought when the Antlers, Missouri's irreverent cheering section, repeatedly hollered "Ostrich" at him prior to last week's game in Columbia, said it. "That's old. I've been called that since kindergarten.". . .

Brent Barry, son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry and younger brother of former Kansas guard Scooter Barry, is starting at Oregon State as a red-shirt freshman. Jon Barry, another son, starts for Georgia Tech. Scooter is currently playing in Europe. . .

HOW'S THIS for an unusual nickname? The Columbus, Ga., franchise in the Class A South Atlantic League has changed its name from the Indians to the RedStixx. Not RedSoxx. RedStixx. The name was taken from the Redstick Warriors, an indigenous Indian tribe. . .

Louisville coach Denny Crum signed a five-year contract extension that boosts his present salary of $130,000 by 10 percent and guarantees another $130,000 for radio and TV appearances. And that was BEFORE the Cardinals knocked off Kansas here last weekend. . .

Speaking of coaching pacts, Colorado football coach Bill McCartney picked up an extra $21,600 for taking the Buffaloes to the Blockbuster Bowl. The bonus was included in a clause that provides him with two extra months of pay for any bowl appearance. . .

WICHITA STATE forward Michael Wiggins said it after losses to both Kansas and Kansas State within an eight-day period. "I think KU is definitely much better. They run their offense more and to me they are way better." . . .

What do Kansas and UCLA have in common? When Eric Pauley opens a game for the Jayhawks' basketball team, forward Richard Scott, who hails from Little Rock, is the only non-Californian starter. UCLA also starts four Californians. The Bruins' lone non-Golden Stater is center Rodney Zimmerman of Colorado Springs. . .

Danny Manning has signed on as a spokesman for National Police Athletic Leagues. The Los Angeles Clippers forward and former Kansas All-American is scheduled for several PAL appearances around the country. . .

So heated was a four-hour discussion by Wichita State's basketball players after their 81-51 loss at Indiana State last weekend that a security guard at their hotel in Terre Haute was called to the room four times to ask the players to stop making so much noise. . .

YOU THINK the NCAA is made of money, eh? Well, only three of the national championships the NCAA conducted last year made a net profit after all the expenses, including transportation and per diem, were paid. Men's basketball was one, of course. The others were wrestling and ice hockey. . .